Control of access for telephone service providers using voice recognition

ABSTRACT

A telecommunications network includes a plurality of subscriber stations, a plurality of network elements and a voice recognition module. The voice recognition module is associated with a network element and is configured to recognize at least one biometric voice parameter.

The present invention relates generally to a telecommunications networkincluding a plurality of network elements and a plurality of subscriberstations, and in particular to a telecommunications network including avoice recognition module associated with one of the network elements forrecognizing biometric voice parameters.

Telecommunications networks of the type discussed here are generallyknown. They feature a plurality of network elements which can beconstituted, for example, by switching centers and/or a networkmonitoring or control element. A plurality of subscriber stations, orconnections, which are also referred to as “terminal stations” andultimately enable the user to access the network, originate at thenetwork elements, in particular at the switching centers.

In telecommunications networks of that kind, suppliers who are alsoreferred to as “providers” offer services which, in addition to theactual connection fee, result in costs for the service offered or used.In many cases, problems arise because unauthorized persons, inparticular persons incapable of contracting, order goods or servicesfrom a provider, but no contract results from this because this orderwas given by persons who are incapable of contracting as mentionedabove. Moreover, the known networks have the disadvantage that, in manycases, services are used but when the network operator issues the bill,the user denies having used the service. This often leads to problemsespecially with the so-called “0190 telephone numbers”.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide atelecommunications network which essentially avoids the above mentionedproblems.

The present invention provides a telecommunications network including aplurality of subscriber stations, a plurality of network elements, andat least one voice recognition module. Each voice recognition module isassociated with a respective network element and configured to recognizeat least one biometric voice parameter.

According to the present invention, the network has the feature that atleast one of the network elements has a voice recognition module forrecognizing biometric voice parameters. If a service which is accessiblevia the telecommunications network and for which service charges arisein addition to the connection costs is called, the voice recognitionmodule is automatically turned on, especially when the subscriber isprompted, for example, by a recorded message to specify his/her desiredservice so that biometric voice parameters of the user of the subscriberstation can then be obtained. It is, of course, also possible to providea query facility internally within the network so that when certainprefix numbers are dialed, a recorded message is provided by the networkoperator to prompt the user, for example, to answer a question so thatthe biometric voice parameters can then be obtained. If then, after thebill has been issued, problems arise and the user denies having used theservice, then the obtained biometric voice parameters can be evaluatedand, by subsequently analyzing the voice of the user, clear statementscan be made as to whether this subscriber has actually used the service.Moreover, the voice recognition module according to the presentinvention allows persons who do not have access rights to be filteredout in advance so that these do not get access to such services at all.Using modern voice recognition modules, the sex of the caller, the age,etc., can also be determined without difficulty. For example, if acaller is determined to be under 18 years of age, the caller can bedenied access to such services. Ultimately, the telecommunicationsnetwork according to the present invention offers the advantage thatproblematic cases can be avoided in advance and that misuse of servicescan be reduced or possibly even completely avoided.

Moreover, the recorded biometric voice parameters can be analyzed forstatistical purposes. For example, a specific age group that contactsone and the same service provider can be inferred in this manner.However, this also makes it possible to initiate marketing actionssince, ultimately, habits of a subscriber station user can be identifiedas well. Finally, it is also possible to provide specific servicefeatures for specific customer groups so that only this customer grouphas access to the these service features.

In an embodiment of the present invention, provision is made for adecision device to be associated with the telecommunications network,the decision device thus being connected to at least one networkelement. The decision device can decide on the basis the obtainedbiometric voice parameters whether to establish a telecommunicationsconnection from one subscriber station to another subscriber station atall. For example, if a subscriber dials a prefix for a service providerwho defines age of majority of the caller as an access condition, thevoice recognition module can determine the biometric voice parameters sothat then the decision device decides whether to connect the subscriberto the desired subscriber station. In this context, another embodimentof the present invention provides for the telecommunications connectionto be interrupted and for the caller to hear an automatic message bywhich he/she is rejected. Alternatively or additionally, provision canbe made for the caller to be put through to an operator at a callcenter, requiring himlher to verbally specify the desired connection.Finally, the access condition can be checked by questions of theoperator so that an operator-assisted call can be made.

In one exemplary embodiment, the voice recognition module is associatedwith a network monitoring or control element. This network monitoring orcontrol element is also referred to as “service creation point” viawhich, in particular, the above mentioned service lines can berequested. In another embodiment, the voice recognition module can alsobe connected to a switching unit, it being possible for this switchingunit to be a so-called “local switching center”.

In a preferred embodiment, the telecommunications network has aninterface to a further telecommunications network. Thus, subscribers ofone network can also request services that are offered in or over thefurther telecommunications network. Here too, it is possible to verifythe access rights to a service provider because the voice recognitionmodule is provided.

It is, of course, also possible for the further telecommunicationsnetwork to have a voice recognition module at at least one networkelement. In the telecommunications connection from one subscriberstation to another subscriber station there exists an access capabilityto allow the voice recognition module to determine the biometric voiceparameters.

In an embodiment of the present invention, provision is made for thevoice recognition module to have a voice parameter memory in which arestored the already determined user-specific voice parameters. When thisuser or subscriber wishes to telecommunicate a second time, then thealready stored voice parameters can be used for matching so that it canbe determined that this subscriber has contacted the desired call numberor the desired service provider before. Then, the telecommunicationsconnection can be established more easily and quickly.

In an embodiment of the present invention, provision is made for theuser-specific voice parameters to be provided with a key which is storedas well. This key can be assigned, for example, according to thespecific service providers so that it can easily be determined whetherone and the same subscriber has contacted this service line more oftenbefore. If, for example, when the bill for the telecommunicationsconnections is settled, no notes exist then it is possible to connectdirectly through to the desired service provider straight away.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the present invention will be explained in greaterdetail based on exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a telecommunicationsnetwork including a voice recognition module;

FIG. 2 depicts a second exemplary embodiment of a telecommunicationsnetwork including a voice recognition module; and

FIG. 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a telecommunicationsnetwork including a voice recognition module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a first telecommunications network 1 including a pluralityof network elements 2 through 7. Moreover, a plurality of subscriberstations 8 through 10 are associated with telecommunications network 1.Subscriber station 8 is connected to telecommunications network 1 vianetwork element 4 which is designed, in particular, as a local switchingcenter that is connected to network element 3. Thus, network element 3constitutes a network node 11 at which can originate a plurality ofswitching centers which are constituted by the two network elements 5and 6.

Between subscriber station 10 and network element 6, provision can bemade for a specific switching center which is intended for a particularsubscriber or a particular subscriber group and which is constituted bynetwork element 7 here.

Moreover, first telecommunications network 1 features a device 12 inwhich are stored data for a telecommunications connection between onesubscriber station and another subscriber station so that subscriberbills or subscriber station bills can be created via a billing device13. Billing device 13 can also receive data for billing from a device12′ which is identical in design to device 12 and associated with asecond telecommunications network 14. This second telecommunicationsnetwork 14 also has a plurality of subscriber stations of which,however, only one subscriber station 15 is shown. Between secondtelecommunications network 14 and first telecommunications network 1,provision is made for an interface 16 which is constituted, inparticular, by network element 2. Thus, it becomes clear that it is alsopossible to establish a telecommunications connection from subscriberstation 15 to one of the other subscriber stations 8 through 10 and viceversa.

First telecommunications network 1 has a further network element 17which is connected to connecting node 11, i.e., to network element 3.Network element 17 is designed, in particular, as a network monitoringor control element which is also referred to as “service creation point”and in which telecommunications connections to service providers, which,in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 are constituted bysubscriber stations 9 and 10, can be monitored. Furthermore,telecommunications network 1 has a voice recognition module 18 which isused to determine biometric voice parameters, in particular, when atelecommunications connection is to be established from one ofsubscriber stations 8 or 15 to subscriber station 9 or 10 in order touse a service.

If the subscriber at station 8 dials a specific subscriber number orsubscriber group prefix, voice recognition module 18 can be switchedinto the connection and record the voice of the user at station 8 andderive or calculate biometric voice parameters therefrom.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the voice recognition module can be connectedto any of network elements 2 to 7, as shown in FIG. 1 by voicerecognition modules depicted in broken lines. However, it becomes clearthat at least one voice recognition module 18 is provided. However, itis also possible to provide several of these voice recognition modulesat different network elements, if necessary. As can also be inferredfrom FIG. 1, the voice recognition module has a voice parameter memorydevice 19 in which can be stored already determined user-specific voiceparameters which can be associated with a station 8 and/or a person.Preferably, the biometric voice parameters are stored in voice parametermemory device 19 together with a key which will allow the voiceparameters to be associated with a subscriber in a particular simplemanner.

FIG. 2 depicts another exemplary embodiment of a telecommunicationsnetwork 1. Equal or equally acting parts as in FIG. 1 are denoted hereby the same reference numerals so that, therefore, reference is made tothe description thereof. Here too, network element 5 is designed as aswitching center, which, however, is allocated to a subscriber group, inparticular to a service provider group, so that it is possible toconnect from network element 5 to the downstream local switchingcenters, of which only one local switching center 5′, to which isconnected subscriber station 9, is shown here. Voice recognition module18 is connected to this network element 5.

It can also be seen from FIG. 2 that second telecommunications network14 can also feature a voice recognition module 18. Thus, it is possibleto establish a voice-monitored connection from a subscriber station 8via network elements 4, 3 and 2 to a subscriber station 15 of the secondnetwork.

Since there is also a voice recognition module 18 arranged within firstnetwork 1, it is also possible to monitor connections within thisnetwork 1 by means of voice recognition. If one of voice recognitionmodules 18 identifies a subscriber who should not get access rights tosubscriber station 9, the subscriber at station 8 can be put through toa call center 21 via an optionally provided further network element 20so that, after checking the access rights of the subscriber at station8, an operator-assisted call can be made to subscriber station 9 or toanother subscriber station. Thus, network element 20 constitutes adecision device 20′ which decides on the basis of the voice parameterswhether to connect a subscriber to the desired subscriber station,whether to reject the subscriber and/or whether the subscriber should beconnected to the call center.

FIG. 3 depicts a third exemplary embodiment of a telecommunicationsnetwork 1. Equal or equally acting parts as in FIGS. 1 and 2 areprovided with the same reference numerals. Therefore, reference is madeto the corresponding sections of the specification. Between networkelement 17 and network element 20, provision is made for a so-called“forgery detection device” 22 which is designed to detect whether asubscriber disguises his/her voice or, for example, whether he/she playsa tape of a different voice. If forgery detection device 22 detects sucha manipulation, it can put the calling subscriber directly through to anoperator of call center 21. If forgery detection device 22 does notdetect any manipulation attempt, then the connection desired by asubscriber can be established during which, again, biometric voice dataor parameters are determined by voice recognition module 18 via networkelement 20. If access rights are identified here, it is possible toconnect through to the desired subscriber or service provider. If noaccess rights are identified, it is again possible to connect through tothe operator of call center 21.

If specific subscriber numbers or specific subscriber groups (having aspecial prefix) are dialed, provision is made in telecommunicationsnetworks 1, in particular, to carry out a preliminary conversation withthe calling subscriber. To this end, a message pointing out the specificprefix number or the specific subscriber station can be played from atape. In order to induce the user to reply, provision can be made, inparticular, to establish the desired connection only when the subscribertells the desired call number or the desired station number by voice.Thus, it can be provided that access to specific subscriber groups isenable only by dialing the prefix whereupon the desired subscribernumber must be given by the calling subscriber by voice. In this manner,it is reliably guaranteed that the biometric voice data can actually beobtained. If voice recognition module 18 decides that thetelecommunications subscriber has the access rights, for example, therequired minimum age, the telecommunications connection can beestablished.

Thus, it is shown that, using the voice recognition module according tothe present invention, problematic cases, which can include, forexample, underage subscribers, can be filtered out in advance. Moreover,it is possible to prove that a subscriber has actually used a serviceprovider because the subscriber can be unequivocally identified by thebiometric voice parameters. However, this also results in a reductionand possibly even in the elimination of the misuse of such serviceproviders. Moreover, the network operator is provided with thepossibility of creating statistics of customer groups and social groups.The monitoring capability also goes down to the level of individualconversations, which will allow monitoring of selected subscribernumbers. The network operator is also offered possibilities formarketing actions, taking into account the determined biometric voiceparameters. Thus, it is possible to determine frequently selectedservice providers for specific groups of people. Furthermore, it ispossible to request special service features for specific customergroups so that special services can be offered, for example, to childrenand young people. Of course, this can also be intended for othercustomer groups, even in limited regions.

1. A telecommunications network comprising: a plurality of subscriberstations; a plurality of a network elements; at least one voicerecognition module, each of the at least one voice recognition modulebeing associated with a respective network element of the plurality ofnetwork elements and configured to recognize at least one biometricvoice parameter; and a decision device associated with at least one ofthe network elements, the decision device configured to decide, on thebasis of the at least one biometric voice parameter, whether toestablish a telecommunications connection from one of the subscriberstations to another of the subscriber stations; wherein at least a firstof the network elements is configured to automatically connect the onesubscriber station to a network operator when the decision devicedecides not to establish the telecommunications connection.
 2. Thetelecommunications network as recited in claim 1 wherein the decisiondevice is integrated into at least one of the at least one voicerecognition module.
 3. The telecommunications network as recited inclaim 1 wherein at least one of the network elements is a networkmonitoring element, at least one of the at least one voice recognitionmodule being associated with the network monitoring element.
 4. Thetelecommunications network as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one ofthe network elements is a network control element, at least one of theat least one voice recognition module being associated with the networkcontrol element.
 5. The telecommunications network as recited in claim 1wherein at least one of the network elements is a switching unit, atleast one of the at least one voice recognition module being associatedwith the switching unit.
 6. The telecommunications network as recited inclaim 1 further comprising an interface to another telecommunicationsnetwork.
 7. The telecommunications network as recited in claim 1 furthercomprising an interface to another telecommunications network, the othertelecommunications network including at least one second networkelement, a respective second voice recognition module being associatedwith at least one of the at least one second network element.
 8. Thetelecommunications network as recited in claim 1 wherein the at leastone voice recognition module includes a voice parameter memoryconfigured to store a previously-recorded user-specific voice parameter.9. The telecommunications network as recited in claim 8 wherein theuser-specific voice parameter is associated with a key and wherein thevoice parameter memory is configured to store the key.
 10. Atelecommunications network comprising: a plurality of subscriberstations; a plurality of a network elements; at least one voicerecognition module, each of the at least one voice recognition modulebeing associated with a respective network element of the plurality ofnetwork elements and configured to recognize at least one biometricvoice parameter; and a decision device associated with at least one ofthe network elements, the decision device configured to decide, on thebasis of the at least one biometric voice parameter, whether toestablish a telecommunications connection from one of the subscriberstations to another of the subscriber stations; wherein the at least onevoice recognition module includes a voice parameter memory configured tostore a previously-recorded user-specific voice parameter; wherein theuser-specific voice parameter is associated with a key and wherein thevoice parameter memory is configured to store the key; and wherein thetelecommunications network is configured to automatically connect theone subscriber station to a network operator when the decision devicedecides not to establish the telecommunications connection.
 11. Thetelecommunications network as recited in claim 10 wherein the decisiondevice is integrated into at least one of the at least one voicerecognition module.
 12. The telecommunications network as recited inclaim 10 wherein at least one of the network elements is a networkcontrol element, at least one of the at least one voice recognitionmodule being associated with the network control element.
 13. Thetelecommunications network as recited in claim 10 further comprising aninterface to another telecommunications network.
 14. Atelecommunications network comprising: a plurality of subscriberstations; a plurality of a network elements; at least one voicerecognition module, each of the at least one voice recognition modulebeing associated with a respective network element of the plurality ofnetwork elements and configured to recognize at least one biometricvoice parameter; a decision device associated with at least one of thenetwork elements, the decision device configured to decide, on the basisof the at least one biometric voice parameter, whether to establish atelecommunications connection from one of the subscriber stations toanother of the subscriber stations; and a forgery detection deviceconfigured to detect a manipulation of a voice of a subscriber; whereinat least one of the network elements is configured to connect the onesubscriber station to a network operator when the forgery detectiondevice detects the manipulation.
 15. The telecommunications network asrecited in claim 14 wherein the manipulation of a voice of a subscriberincludes at least one of a disguising of the voice and a playing of arecording of a different voice.
 16. The telecommunications network asrecited in claim 14 wherein at least one of the network elements is anetwork monitoring element, at least one of the at least one voicerecognition module being associated with the network monitoring element.17. The telecommunications network as recited in claim 14 wherein atleast one of the network elements is a network control element, at leastone of the at least one voice recognition module being associated withthe network control element.
 18. The telecommunications network asrecited in claim 14 further comprising an interface to anothertelecommunications network.